Chewing pitch mistaken for opium

June 2003

Pah Nmm Akha Village

Ampur Mae Fah Luang

Chiangrai Province

Data:

In early June 2003 a man accused Mr. Ah Turh of having sold him drugs. The army came to Pah Nmm Akha in Amphur Mae Faluang, Chiangrai MT8 and beat Mr. Ah Turh with an M-16 sold by the US Government.

He was punched, kicked and had a concrete block broken over his back. His leg was repeatedly beaten with the butt of a M-16 rifle.

Then the army discovered that the ball of black they had found in his home was pitch used in chewing beatle nut, not opium.

He was released. These photos were taken FIVE days after the beating.